Ignition appaeattts



Nov. 20, 1923` 1,474,970

-A. A. KENT IGNITION APPARATUS Filed Deo. 20, 1920 INVENTOR.

BYZ

l TTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 20; 19.23.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR ATV/'ATER KENT, OF ARDMORE, PENNSYLVANIA.

` IGNITION APPARATUS. I

Application filed December 20, 1920. Serial No. 431,964.

My invention resides in novel structure of a contacter arm or arm carrying the movable interrupter or timer contact; 1t resides further in structure for shielding thev associated condenser and correlating the con-v denser with the interrupter or timer structure; and it resides` further in novel strueture `for supporting the stationary interru ter or timercontact. l

y invention resides in the structure hereinafter described and claimed.

For an illustration of one of the various formsfthe invention may take, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of apparatus embodyinV my invention.

gFig. 2 isa sectional view, partly in elevaltion, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a sectional View, partly in elevation,'taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the contadtor arm.

Fig; 6 isla perspective view-of one of the members embodied in my structure.

F 7 is a perspective view of a conductor terminal.

Refeidring to the drawing, 1 is a support or base plate of anysuitable material; in

the example illustrated it is of conducting` material, as iron or .other suitable metal. Through an aperture 2 in the plate 1 projects, as indicated in Fig. 1, the cam shaft 3, which may be driven by any suitable means as by the internal combustion engine with which the disclosed apparatus is associated, the shaft 3 being driven by and in definite relation with respect to the engine shaft through the usual intervening gears or equivalent driving mechanism. Upon the shaft 3 is the cam 4 having a point for each cylinder of the engine.

As well understood in the art, the function of the cam Vis to periodically actuate the movable interrupter or timer contact to control the instant at which the ignition cir' cuit is broken to produce a spark for igniting a combustible mixture in an engine cylinder. l v

The movablev interrupter contact is indicated at 5, and its co-acting stationary interrupter contact is indicated at 6.

The contact 5 is secured Iupon the movable contact arm or lever 7 of sheet metal, as steel, which has the lateral lflanges 8, 8 accentuated at 9, 9,`the arm 7 being, at the end opposite the contact 5, bent at substantially right angles, whereby there is formed the abutment or projection 10 which may also be ianged at 8, 8. Disposed withink the channel between the flanges 8, 8 of the arm 7- is the sheet metal member 11, preferably vof spring steel, secured to the arm 7 by rivets 12. At .one end the member 1l is 4bent forwardly, as indicated a't 13, to which ing abutment or bracket 19, the point of at' tachment of the spring 17 'being preferably remote fro1n the front end or edge of the abutment 19, as indicated. The abutment 19 is integral with or carried by the plate 20 sec'ured'by` screw 214 to the plate o r base 1.

The spring 17, with the parts in the position indicated in Fig. 1, that is, With the contact 5 in engagement -with contact 6, is under stress or tension, holding the contact 5 against contact 6 andy resisting its separatin therefrom by actuation of the arm 7 by the cam 4 through the medium of the shoe or cam follower 15.

The vstationary interrupter contact 6 is secured upon the head 22 of the bolt 23 threaded through the .bracket or supporting member 24, the contact 6 being held in 'adjusted position by tightening the lock nut 25.l

The member 24 is part ot an integral sheet metal structure, Fig. G, comprising the conbracket or standard 29 bent laterally troni ,and 28 to the base l.

which is the aforesaid support 24C.

Secured to the under side of the member 26, as by welding, is the sheet metal member 30 in the form'o'l" an elongated cupl withinwhich is disposed the condenser unit j@ suitably covered with insulating and water proofing material and having the laterally extending sheet metal terminals Si and 32.

Between the under side ot the condenser unit C and the base l intervenes alea't spring 33, which may be secured to the plate l, or to the condenser unit.

The ,member 26 is secured bv its lugs 27 'lhe lug 27 is secured by the. screw 34 threaded into the base l and extending through the loclr washer 35, metal washer 36, washer 37 of insulating material, thence through the lug 27 and condenser terminal 3l, and thence through the washer ot insulating material'into the base l, the apertures in the lug 27, terminal 3l and washer 38 being large enough to accommodelle the insulating bushing 39 surrounding the screw By this construction the lug 27 is mechanically secured to, but electrically insulated from, the base l., and at the same time electrical connection is effec-ted be tweenthe condenser terminal 3l andthe lug 27, and therefore with the stationary interrupter contact 6.

The other lug 28 is secured to thebase l by screw 40, which extends through the lock washer lll, metal washer 42, insulating washer 43, through an insulating bushing 44 surrounding the screw 40, the bushing llfl extending through registering holes in the lug 28 and the insulating washer 45, the screw 40 extending also through a hole in the condenser terminal B2 and thence into the base 1. By this structure the lug 28 is mechanically secured to but electrically'insulated from the base 1, whereby the inember 26 and all parts conductively connected therewith are insulated from the base l. But

the condenser terminal 32 is clamped against the metal base l and makes electrical contact therewith, with the result that in effect the condenser terminal 32 is in electrical communication with the movable interruptor contact 5, the condenser C being therefore shunted across the interrupter contacts, as

well understood in the art.

Referring to Fig. 7, there is shown aconf ductor or cable terminal having the lugs 4:6, j 46 between which the ends of a conducting cable or conductor are disposed and then secured by bending the lugs over and by soldering, whereby the conductor is v'connected to the terminal 47 proper.l The terf tennero minal is provided with a screwhole 48 and a downwardly extending lug 49, the screw hole 48 registering with the hole' 50 in the lug 27, and the downwardly 'extending 'lug 49 projecting into the hole 5l in lug 27, thereby preventing rotation of the terminal t7 as the screw 52 is fastened or loosened, the screw 52 threading into the lug 27 and so connecting the cable and cable terminal to theI lug 27.

'llhe conductor connected to the lug 27, as by terminal e7, may be in the primary circuit et the ignition induction coil, such primary circuit including the induction coil primary and a battery, one end ol" the primary circuit being grounded or connected.

to the metallic mass ot the engine, and the other terminal is accordingly grounded through fthe structure herein illustrated 'through the movable interrupter contact 5,

which is in electrical connection with the hase l, which may be and generally is in electrical connection with the mass or frame ot the apparatus and is therefore grounded. y By the contact arm structure described, the movable contact is farther l'roni the end ot the arm 7, about which pirotal movement takes place, than the cani :lollowfr 1,5, whereby wide separation ot the contacts t3 and 16 is effected by the cam, the wide and rapid separa-tion assisting in making a clean sharp brealt in the primary circuit. rhe arm structure is such that while very light, and therefore capable ot readily and itaithtully following the cam at high speed, it is nevertheless stili or rigid in virtue oit the flanges 8 and accentuated flanges t).

The condenser holder or cover structure serves at once to protect the condenser unit against mechanical injury, and serve also to shield it from moisture or water. nd the same structure serves for supporting the stationary interrupter contact and its adjusting means.

`What I Aclaim is:

l. Ignition timer arm structure comprising a lever arm, an interrupter contact carried thereby adjacent one end thereof, a member disposed between said contact and the other end of said lever arm and having a tace projecting at a substantial angle with respect to the longitudinal extent of said lever arm, and a cam Yfollofving shoe con sisting, of non-metalli(I sheet i-naterialvsecuied flatwise to said tace and adapted to engagea camv at its end.

QQIgnition timer arnrstructure comprisinga. lever arm, an inteirupter contact carried thereby, 'and cam follower structure comprising a plate secured to said lever arm -and having `a portion extending at a substantialangle with the longitudinal extent of said lever arm, and a shoe secured to said portion of said plate.

:3, Ignition timer arm structure coinprhlll ' ment and allowing movement of said leversaid contact and the other end of said lever L, arm, an abutment at the other end of said lever arm, and means supporting said abutarm by said cam vfollower.

' 4. Ignition timer arm structure comprising a lever arm of channel section, a member withinv the channel extending at a substantial angle with respect to the longitudinal extent of said arm, and ashoe secured to said member and projecting beyond the sides of said channel.

5. Ignition timer arm structure comprising a lever arm, an interrupter contact carried thereby, and cam follower structure comprising a strip having a flat face secured against a flat Jface nbf said llever arm, a bent up end on said strip, and a` shoe secured to said bent up end.

6. Ignition timer arm structure comprising a lever arm, an interrupter contact carried at one end thereof, an abutment on said lever arm atthe other end thereof, a cam follower secured to said arm between said contact and said abutment, and a leaf sprino secured to said abutment for supporting and allowing movement of said lever arm.

7. Ignition timer structure comprising a lever arm, an interrupter contact carried thereby adjacent one end thereof, a earn follower carried by said arm intermediatesaid contact and the opposite end of said arm, an abutment at said opposite end of said farm, a cam for actuating said follower, a condenser holder having lugs disposed on'opposite sides of said cam, and a stationary interrupter contact in the path of said first named contact supported by said condenser holder on the side of the cam opposite to that of said abut-ment.

8. Ignition timer structure comprising a timer arm, an interrupter contact carried thereby, a cam for actuating said arm, a stationary interrupter contact, a condenser` shunted across said contacts, a condenser holder supporting said stationary contact, and a condenser shield Secured to said holder for receiving said condenser, said shield covering the ends of said condenser.

9. Ignition timer structure comprising a base member, interrupter structure carried thereby, a condenser shunting the interrupter contacts, a holder secured to and spaced from said base member, and a condenser shield secured to saidholder for receiving said condenser between itself and said base member, said shield covering the ends and sides of said condenser.

10. Ignition timer structure comprisin a base member, interrupter structure carried thereby, a `condenser shunting the interrupter contacts, a holder secured to and spaced from said base member, v-and aninver-ted cup-shaped member secured to said holder and receiving said'condenser.

11. Ignition timer structure comprising a base member, interrupter structure there-y on, a condenser shunting the interrupter contacts, a metallic holder member having a portion spaced from said base member, means securing said holder member to and insulating it from said base member, a cupshaped member secured to said portion of said holder member, said Condenser disposed in said cup-shaped member between the sameand said base member.

12. Ignition timer structure comprising a base, interrupter structure thereon, a. metallie member secured to and insulated from said base member, a stationary interrupter contact carried by said metalliemember,

said metallic member having an aperture,

and a conductor terminal secured to said metallic member and having'a lug extending into said aperture.

13. Ignition timer structure comprising a base member, a condenser holder of metal secured to said base member in speced relation thereto, a condenser disposed between said base member and said holder, lug strucf ture upstandingfrom said holder, a member projecting laterally from said lug structure, and an interrupter contact carried by said laterally projecting member.

14. Ignition timer structure* comprising a metal base member, a condenser holder of metal secured to and insulated from said base member, lug structure upstanding from said holder, a member projecting laterally from said lug structure, and a screw carrying an interrupter contact threaded through said laterally projecting member.

I 15. Ignition timer arm structure comprisinga lever arm provided with laterally eX- tending flange structure intermediate its ends, a'eontact carried by said arm adjacent an end thereof, a member having a flatface extending at a 'substantial angle to said arm disposed between the ends of said arm adjavcent said flange structure, and a cam fol#- lower shoe of non-metallic sheet material secured flatwise to said face and having a cam-engaging end projecting vbeyond said liange structure.

16. Ignition timer arm structure comprising a lever arm, an interrupter contact carried thereby, an abutment on one end of said lever arm extending transversely thereto'at a relatively great angle, and lianges on said arm and said abutment. v

17. Ignition timer arm structure comprising a lever arm of channel section, an interrupter contact carried thereby, and an abutment of channel section on one end of said lever arm extending transversely thereto at a relatively' great angle.

18. Ignition timer'arm structure comprisan end thereof, a plate secured to said arm and having a portlon extendingr at a sub-4 stantial angle with respect, .to said arm, and a cam follower shoe of non-metallic sheet t material secured latwise to said portion of said plate and having a cam-engaging end 10 projecting beyond said flange structure.

19. Ignition timer arm structure comprising a lever arm, an interrupter Contact Car ried thereby, an abutment of channel seotion on one end of said lever arm extending transversely thereto at si relatively great an gle, and a leaf spring secured to said abut ment. i'

In testimonv whereof I have hereunto afxed my signature this 17th day of December, 1 920.

ARTHUR ATWATER KENT. 

